Western state officials say feds shouldn't regulate drilling

Western state officials took turns bashing thefederal government at a congressional field hearing on proposednationwide drilling rules on hydraulic fracturing. But Democrats on the panel Wednesday, along with some Coloradoenvironmental activists, insisted that health concerns around thedrilling procedure known as fracking mean there is a need forcommon health and safety standards. Officials from Colorado, Wyoming and Utah testified before theSubcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Wednesday at theColorado Capitol. The state officials said states are better suitedthan the Department of Interior at regulating drilling. Theyclashed with Colorado environmentalists and a Democraticcongressman from New Jersey who argued that health concerns are thesame in Western states and Eastern states and that nationaldrilling regulation is appropriate.